House marking device

ABSTRACT

A house marking device which is provided with a baseplate having means for supporting a light and battery assembly thereon. A housing having a translucent faceplate is swingably connected to said baseplate and extends thereover. Opaque indicia are removably supported on said faceplate and are thus silhouetted thereagainst in daylight and are likewise silhouetted thereagainst in darkness when said light and battery assembly is actuated.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Wlnlred D. Wren c/o Wren, Inc., 1024 S. Keallng Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 46203 [21] Appl. No. 812,139 [22] Filed Apr. 1, 1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [54] HOUSE MARKING DEVICE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 40/133 B, 40/64, 339/89 [51] lnt.Cl 609i 13/06 [50] Field of Search 40/133 B, 63, 64, 143, 132, 130; 339/176 L, 188, 89, 90; 240/106, 10.63, 153

[S6] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,816 8/1913 Sargent 40/63 2,278,385 3/1942 Watts 339/188 X 2,395,197 2/1946 Schlanger 40/143 3,291,975 12/1966 McCullough et a1. 40/132 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,432,328 2/1966 France 40/143 Primary Examiner- Lawrence Charles Assistant ExaminerRichard Carter Attorney-Trask, Jenkins and l-lanley ABSTRACT: A house marking device which is provided with a baseplate having means for supporting a light and battery as- INVENTOR WINFRED D. WREN BY mg a ATTORNE HOUSE MARKING DEVICE SUMMARY OE THE INVENTION In accordance with one form of the invention, there is provided a baseplate having light bulb and battery mounting members thereon. Electrical conductors are provided on said baseplate to form an electrical circuit between said battery and light bulb. A housing is swingably connected to said baseplate and is movable between an open position in which it is angled outwardly away from said baseplate and a closed position in which it extends over said baseplate to enclose said light bulb and battery. Conveniently, a switch is mounted on said housing for selectively closing and opening said circuit between said battery and light bulb.

The front face of said housing is formed by a translucent faceplate having a pair of open-ended opposed channels extending along its upper and lower edges. Opaque indicia are slidably received in said channels and are supported against said faceplate. Said indicia are releasably retained in position against said faceplate by projections formed thereon which are receivable in longitudinally spaced recesses formed in said faceplate. Thus, the opaque indicia will be silhouetted against the translucent faceplate in the daylight. And in darkness, the circuit between the battery and light bulb can be closed to cause said bulb to illuminate the faceplate so that the indicia will be silhouetted against said faceplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. ll is a perspective view of a house marking device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the housing in its closed position in full lines and in its open position in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the baseplate shown in FIG. 2 but with the light bulb and batteries removed therefrom; and

FIG. 41 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the bulb mounting assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the instant invention comprises a baseplate having a housing 12 provided with a translucent faceplate M swingably mounted thereon. The baseplate lid has a pair of lteyhole-shaped openings 13 adjacent its upper end and is provided with a pair of hinge mounts 15 adjacent its lower end. The housing 12 is swingably connected to the mounts 15 as by spring-biased hinges i6 urging the housing 112 into its closed position as shown in full lines in PM}. 2.

The housing l2 comprises interconnected top, bottom, and sidewalls whose forward edges terminate in a front wall 117 defining an elongated central opening 18 which is rearwardly offset with respect to the wall 117. The opening it is closed by the elongated faceplate M. A plurality of rearwardly extending projections 19 on the faceplate are fixedly received in openings in the front wall 17 for mounting the faceplate on the housing. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing l2 and faceplate M form a cover for the baseplate it) when said housing is in its closed position.

A pair of opposed openended channels 22 are formed along the upper and lower edges of the faceplate I4. Said channels are adapted to receive the upper and lower edges of opaque indicia 24 slidably received in said channels and sup ported against the forward face of the faceplate Mi. In order to releasably retain the indicia 24 in the desired position along the faceplate 11 3, said faceplate is provided with a row of longitudinally spaced recesses 26 adjacent each of the channels 22, and the indicia 24 are provided with rearwardly extending projections 28 receivable in said recesses. Thus, said indicia can be releasably retained in the desired position along the 2 faceplate by the channels 22 and the cooperating projections 2t and recesses 2'5.

As will be understood, the opaque indicia 2d are silhouetted against the faceplate M and are thus visible during daylight. In order to silhouette said indicia against said faceplate during darkness, a lighting assembly is mounted on said baseplate w. To this end, a pair of laterally spaced arcuate brackets 30 and Eli project forwardly from the baseplate W, and a pair of forwardly projecting lugs 32 and 333 are disposed over each of the brackets 3f and iii to cooperate with said brackets for supporting a pair of batteries on said brackets.

An electrical conductor 36 is interposed between the bracket BI and lugs 33 and is connected to the forward face of the baseplate It One end of said conductor terminates in a forwardly projecting finger 3h engageable with one of the batteries 3 4i, and the opposite end of said conductor extends over and terminates on a forwardly projecting block dd formed on the baseplate It) adjacent its lower end. A second electrical conductor 42 is mounted on the baseplate iii and extends between the bracket 30 and lugs 32. One end of the conductor 42 terminates in a forwardly projecting finger Mi engageable with the other battery 3d, and the opposite end of the conductor d2 terminates within the extent of the light bulb mounting assembly shown in FIG. 4. Still a third conductor 46 is mounted on the baseplate It) and extends from the light bulb mounting assembly over the block d lfl in longitudinally spaced relation to the conductor Elti.

As shown in MG. d, the light bulb mounting assembly comprises an annular boss di'il formed on the front face of the base plate Iii. Said boss comprises a base portion having a for wardly projecting sidewall Stl connected to a front wall 52 parallel with the baseplate and provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced arcuate slots 5d, each of which has an enlargement 555 at one of its ends. An annular hub 57 projects forwardly from the front wall 52. As shown, the conductor 42 extends through a slot 5% in the side and front walls 50 and 52 and terminates in an annular disc 60 seated on the forward face ofthe hub 57. The bulb 62, which is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 64 on its shank, extends through the hub into conductive engagement with the conductor 46 with its flange 64 disposed against the disc 60 of conductor 42. In order to retain the flange 64 in conductive engagement with the disc dd, there is provided a cap 66' having an annular front wall 6% engageable with said flange and connected to a rearwardly extending sidewall 7h. As shown, a pair of circumferentially spaced legs '72 extend rearwardly from the sidewall 75) into the slots Ed on the boss 4-8. Said legs terminate at their rearward ends in outwardly projecting feet 74 which are insertable into slots 5d through their enlargements 55. With the feet 7d received in the slots 54, the cap can be rotated to cause said feet to underlie the boss front wall M for thus releasably retaining the cap against the bulb 62 and holding it in conductive engagement with the disc 60 and conductor 46.

In order to open and close the circuit from the batteries 34 to the bulb 62, a switch 76 is slidably mounted in the bottom wall of the housing 12. Said switch comprises a finger grip 77 slidably received in a slot in the housing bottom wall and connected to a pair of longitudinally spaced conductive fingers 78 carried within said housing. When the switch is properly positioned, the fingers 7% bridge between the conductors id and 36 to thus close the circuit between the batteries 34 and bulb 62. As will be understood, the upper end of the housing 12 can be swung outwardly away from the baseplate into its open position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 to permit replacement of the bulb and batteries on the baseplate It). When the housing is swung into its closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, the switch fingers 78 are disposed in the same vertical plane as the ends of the conductors dd and 36 on the block 40 so that the switch 76 can be moved into positions opening and closing the circuit to the bulb 62. When said circuit is closed, the bulb will illuminate the faceplate 14 and the indicia 24 will be silhouetted thereagainst. In order to maintain the housing in the proper position with respect to the base plate when said housing is in its closed position, a forwardly projecting rib 82 extends along the front of the baseplate inwardly from the top and lateral edges thereof. A plurality of rearwardly open hooks 84 are formed on the inner edges of the housing top nd sidewalls to thus retain said rib between said hooks and said housing top and sidewalls.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as employing a lighting assembly for illuminating the faceplate 14, it is to be understood, of course, that should such illumination not be desired, said lighting assembly can be eliminated from the baseplate.

1 claim: 7

l. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, a housing connected to said plate and extending thereover and projecting outwardly therefrom, an elongated faceplate mounted on said housing, at least one of said housing and faceplate having means forming a pair of opposed open ended channels along the upper and lower edges of said faceplate, said faceplate having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses formed therein adjacent at least one of its upper and lower edges, indicia slidably supported in said channels against the forwardly presented face of said faceplate, rearwardly directed projections on said indicia receivable in said recesses to releasably retain said indicia in the desired position along said channels, and a lighting assembly mounted on said baseplate to silhouette said indicia against said faceplate.

2. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, means on said baseplate for mounting a light thereon, means on said baseplate for mounting a battery thereon, conductor means defining an electric circuit between said light and battery, a housing swingably connected to said baseplate and extending thereover, switch means mounted on said housing for opening and closing said circuit, a translucent faceplate mounted on said housing, at least one of said housing and faceplate having means forming a pair of opposed open ended channels along the upper and lower edges of said faceplate, said faceplate having a row of longitudinally extending spaced recesses formed therein adjacent each of said channels, indicia slidably supported in said channels, and rearwardly directed projections on said indicia receivable in said recess to releasably retain said indicia in the desired position along said channels.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 in which said housing and faceplate form a rearwardly open cover movable between an open position projecting away from the baseplate and a closed position extending over the forward face of said baseplate to enclose said light and battery, and means on said housing and baseplate for releasably locking said cover in said closed position.

4. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, an annular boss projecting outwardly from said baseplate for mounting a light on the baseplate and provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced slots, means on said baseplate for mounting a battery thereon, conductor means defining an electric circuit between said light and battery, an annular cap adapted to seat against said boss and having a pair of circum ferentially spaced legs lockingly received in said slots, said cap retaining said light against said boss and conductor means, a housing swingably connected to said baseplate, switch means mounted on said housing for opening and closing said circuit, a translucent faceplate mounted on said housing, and indicia mountable on said faceplate. 

1. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, a housing connected to said plate and extending thereover and projecting outwardly therefrom, an elongated faceplate mounted on said housing, at least one of said housing and faceplate having means forming a pair of opposed open ended channels along the upper and lower edges of said faceplate, said faceplate having a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses formed therein adjacent at least one of its upper and lower edges, indicia slidably supported in said channels against the forwardly presented face of said faceplate, rearwardly directed projections on said indicia receivable in said recesses to releasably retain said indicia in the desired position along said channels, and a lighting assembly mounted on said baseplate to silhouette said indicia against said faceplate.
 2. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, means on said baseplate for mounting a light thereon, means on said baseplate for mounting a battery thereon, conductor means defining an electric circuit between said light and battery, a housing swingably connected to said baseplate and extending thereover, switch means mounted on said housing for opening and closing said circuit, a translucent faceplate mounted on said housing, at least one of said housing and faceplate having means forming a pair of opposed open ended channels along the upper and lower edges of said faceplate, said faceplate having a row of longitudinally extending spaced recesses formed therein adjacent each of said channels, indicia slidably supported in said channels, and rearwardly directed projections on said indicia receivable in said recess to releasably retain said indicia in the desired position along said channels.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 in which said housing and faceplate form a rearwardly open cover movable between an open position projecting away from the baseplate and a closed position extending over the forward face of said baseplate to enclose said light and battery, and means on said housing and baseplate for releasably locking said cover in said closed positioN.
 4. A house marking device, comprising a baseplate, an annular boss projecting outwardly from said baseplate for mounting a light on the baseplate and provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced slots, means on said baseplate for mounting a battery thereon, conductor means defining an electric circuit between said light and battery, an annular cap adapted to seat against said boss and having a pair of circumferentially spaced legs lockingly received in said slots, said cap retaining said light against said boss and conductor means, a housing swingably connected to said baseplate, switch means mounted on said housing for opening and closing said circuit, a translucent faceplate mounted on said housing, and indicia mountable on said faceplate. 